Defending the Allocated Budget for Parliament Renovations
Revamping the conference room at the parliamentary building is up for grabs, as justifying the nearly 1.2 billion baht estimated cost for the Sappaya-Sapasathan renovation project in fiscal 2026 becomes crucial, given the inflated expenditure criticism.
Deputy House Speaker, Paradorn Prissanananthakul, responded to the backlash pertaining to the controversial budget proposal, disclosing his oversight of three projects, including the revitalization of the library and parliamentary museum with an allocated 120 million baht, as well as enhancing the sound system in the 1,500-seat conference room, budgeted at 99 million baht.
"Let's make it clear: all of this spending will be valuable, and I personally will oversee the entire process," Paradorn remarked.
Addressing the criticism regarding the museum space being labeled a "burial chamber" beneath the building, Paradorn agreed that the area is currently unutilized but asked a design team to transform it into a lively, accessible museum that tells the story of parliament's rich history, edifying the public.
The push for renovating the conference room also comes to light, given that House and Senate committees now pay for hotel venues to host seminars. Paradorn explains that the proposed budget, initially at 160-170 million baht, was trimmed down to 99 million to proceed with the plans instead of continuing the costly hotel rentals.
Although this may seem excessive, the long-term cost savings, enhanced functionality, and improved aesthetics are expected to justify the renovation costs. It is worth noting that the budget plans are still at the draft stage, with a committee of MPs and experts set to scrutinize the projects in detail to ensure their worth before moving forward.
Built in 2013 with a contract awarded to Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Plc, the Sappaya-Sapasathan building has faced numerous issues since its opening in August 2019. Every now and then, complaints concerning leaking roofs, faulty water pipes, and unspecified materials in contracts have surfaced.
Criticisms revolving around the necessity of renovating a five-year-old building have also come into question. Paradorn simply addressed these concerns by stating that some areas can be optimized and others need to be completed as planned, such as the conference hall.
Additionally, some sections of the building have yet to be completed, necessitating further work in subsequent phases. This includes extending the building to accommodate the improvements planned for the conference room.
Given the significant daily use of the building by thousands of people and the overdue renovations, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has also lent his support to the project. Despite the Charnvirakul family's controlling stake in Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Plc, Anutin no longer maintains any ties to the company.
Sources:[1][2][3]
- The expenditure for the Sappaya-Sapasathan renovation project, set for fiscal 2026, includes not only the renovation of the conference room but also the revitalization of the library and museum, with a combined allocation of 240 million baht.
- In response to the criticism, Deputy House Speaker Paradorn Prissanananthakul has emphasized that the proposed expenditure for the Sappaya-Sapasathan renovation, including the conference room, will be justifiable in the long run due to expected cost savings, enhanced functionality, and improved aesthetics.
- The finance ministry has been urged to carefully review the Sappaya-Sapasathan renovation project's budget plans for fiscal 2026, considering the building is only five years old, and to ensure that the expenditure on the project, encompassing the renovation of the conference room, is necessitated and worthwhile.
